Maighlin Andrews has paid an emotional tribute to her husband, Lions lock Hyron Andrews, who died in France at the age of 31. According to the headline of the original report, she called him “the best father.” The wording of her full post could not be confirmed.
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Andrews died on Friday, October 16, 2026, while the Lions were on tour on the Île de Ré, off France’s western coast, ahead of their Champions Cup match against La Rochelle. He was found unresponsive in a shower at the team hotel, and emergency services were unable to revive him.
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Cause still under investigation
SA Rugby said he died after an accident involving a fall at the hotel. French authorities have opened an investigation into the circumstances. Early reports had suggested a suspected heart attack, but the later accounts describe an accident.
Tributes across rugby
Lions players wept during a minute’s silence at Stade Marcel-Deflandre on Saturday, October 17. Andrews’s number five jersey was placed on the pitch, and photographs of him were shown on screens around the stadium.
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander called the news “terrible and distressing.” Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, the Sharks and Sale Sharks, where he previously played, also paid tribute.
Andrews, born in Paarl and educated at Hoërskool Garsfontein in Pretoria, is survived by his wife and their two young sons, Hendrix and Emerson.
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